Tag Archives: inspiration

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Judge and Jury

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Dear Ellie:

I truly hope you grow up to be able to continuously greet new situations with a fresh take and that you don’t grow cynical after life takes a turn that you’ll find yourself unhappy with, because there will be a lot of turns like that. I will do my best to show you how not to be judgmental of people because you truly never know how many unfortunate turns that person’s life has taken before your paths cross. However, I don’t want you to be naïve either. Being able to judge people and situations is a fine art love bug and one that can take time to master; and quite frankly as a black woman it will be essential. Maya Angelou said once “When people show you who you are believe them; the first time”. It will serve you well to remember that one because sometimes we want to believe the best in people even when faced with overwhelming evidence that a person or situation is not who or what we hoped it would be. And trust me when I say my baby that its ok…no disappointment is in vein if we can find the lesson in it. But you have to take honest inventory of those around us because if they are not contributing to the greater good in your life then why are they still there. It would be wonderful if I could send you out into the world knowing that everyone loved you as much as I did and everyone would care for you like Daddy, but the truth of the matter is that despite the billions of people in the world a miniscule amount of them will truly be good for you. That doesn’t mean though that people can’t have their good moments or that positivity can’t be found in negative situations; you just have to learn how to judge for yourself what your limits should be with certain people and situations. In this world no matter the goodness of your intent you can be turned into a villain or a hero depending on who tells your story. If you were old enough right now to travel to St. Louis County, Missouri you could find yourself in two worlds based upon who you asked to tell you what was going on. Its unfortunate that we will never truly know what happened between Mike Brown and Darren Wilson but I do know that the decision to bring Mr. Wilson to trial or not was not decided by a jury of Mike Brown’s peers and those who wish to can judge him as a “thug” who placed himself in the position to be killed. I also know that Mike Brown will never tell his version of what happened. But you my baby are apart of a generation that will have unlimited access to media and information and it will be your generation that has to use their better judgment when deciding what battles should be fought and who should fight them. Take a honest look at people my baby because not everyone will be here for your betterment and that’s not about being judgmental but rather judging character. It is character that defines a person’s actions when they are left to decide them for themselves, that drives a person’s motives, or that writes post on social media when you don’t have to say what you think aloud to anyone’s face, and its character that shows you who a person really is. So please my baby by all means see the world, be open to new experiences, and don’t judge every book by its cover but when the first chapter is filled with hatred, lies, and other disgusting parts of humanities that I hope you never have to experience (even when I know its inevitable) then at that point its ok to say I see who you are. Be your own judge and jury because this is your life, your rights, your future, etc. and you haven’t been granted the privilege of allowing someone else to protect them.

Love You Always,

Mommy

P.S. To the little girl reading this. I wish you lived in a society that wouldn’t judge you or place you in a box for your past transgression but this is the world we live in. A world where we have unlimited access to your past and it can be used in anyway seen fit depending on the person. Everyone is not to be trusted and every situation will not have a positive outcome. That doesn’t make you powerless though. Being a good judge of character and understanding the direction you want your life to go in doesn’t make you judgmental or mean that your pessimistic. Walk in your own light and let it be know that anyone or anything that attempts to dim that light won’t be tolerated any longer.

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Indoor Voices

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Dear Ellie:

As you learn more and more day by day the power of your voice I can’t help but laugh as you scream “Daaaaaaaaaady!” anytime your Daddy makes the slightest noise from another room. Hopefully by the time you read this you will have mastered the concept of an “indoor voice” and understand that its not quite appropriate to use your loudest voice all the time. But I have to say my baby I also hope that you never totally loose your voice. Today is election day; one of many election days that I’ve taken you to the polls with me in your short 18 months. I don’t remember ever going to vote with my parents but I do remember them instilling that it was important. I remember them watching the news about the election coverage all night long until the ballots were in (booooooring), and I can honestly say I didn’t appreciate it then but I always knew that when I turned 18 I was going to vote. My 18th birthday fell after I had left for my first year at Clark Atlanta University so I had to absentee vote and while I was proud to vote for the first time I was so uneasy because part of me knew my ballot wasn’t really counted. You see that was the 2004 election which is now infamous for being one of the poorest handled elections of my generation due to so many ballots being “lost” or flat out not counted. I didn’t let feeling disheartened stop me from voting though instead I made sure that the next time I voted it would be in person. As life has taken me through different experiences I’ve realized that my voice is not just limited to my city, state, or country but if I speak loud enough and often enough I could make a difference for people around the world. Your voice has that same power my love bug. You could move mountains with you voice if you use the right tone. But there will be times that you may become discouraged, frustrated, or feel like your voice doesn’t make a difference but trust me when I say it does. Your silence makes a difference too. Silence is not met simply with silence but rather the void left by it will be filled with the voices of those that oppose you and/or what you stand for. Don’t ever let any one speak for you and convince you to use your indoor voice when its time to shout with your loudest outdoor voice. My Aunt Janet once told me when I felt like giving up on something that I should never let the devil shut my mouth to what God has put on my heart to say. It was one of those things where I know she didn’t realize the magnitude of what she had said but it has stuck with me ever since and I often have to remind myself of it. You might find yourself thinking “its not even worth it” or “what difference does it make” but my baby your voice has so much power to it that its worth can not be measured and it could make a world of difference you just have to use it.

Love Always,

Mommy

P.S. To the young girl who feels the world around her has silenced her…speak up. No one has the right to take your voice from you. There are times when it may be all we have left. When you strip away all material things what is your story and how will you tell it? Use your voice for good, speak in a way that brings positivity, and when necessary use your outdoor voice

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Busy Body

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Dear Ellie:

Whenever people ask me how you’re doing I always say great, growing so fast and, always BUSY! You are always busy figuring things out, learning new words, singing new songs, or finding new ways to make me and Daddy laugh. I love to see you so busy but as you get older busy will take on a different meaning. These days people often wear busy like a badge of honor…the busier you can say you are the more important you must be. It reminds of when I was in elementary school and whenever we had a substitute teacher it meant one of two things either we got to watch a fun movie or we had to do busy work. You see busy work was usually a bunch of worksheets that our teacher would leave just so that we could say we did something that day even though it didn’t serve as big a purpose as other classwork. Truth be told filling your day with things that serve no real over all purpose or that aren’t as important as we may like to think is just like having busy work in school. These things allow us to say we were doing something and that we didn’t just sit around doing nothing (because no one wants to be known as the person who sits around doing nothing). In reality though my baby I want you to know there is nothing wrong with not being “busy”. I used to love to be apart of a million things and now that I’m truly busy, because my job as mommy and wife are both 24/7 lifetime positions and require more of me than anything else I’ve ever been apart of, I’ve learned that “busying” my so called free time just sitting on a couch with your Daddy watching you figure out a toy is the best kind of busy there is. I’d rather be busy doing nothing with the people I love than filling my schedule with things that in all honesty can either wait, be put to the side, or delegated to someone else. It took me years to figure out that I don’t have to do it all and I want to make sure I remind you of that early. You don’t have to play a bunch of sports or participate in a bunch of activities to prove anything. I’d rather you spend your time focused on what you love (and yes its fine to remind me of this when I wake you up at the crack of dawn for dance class). We all need to breathe my baby there is no award being the person that worked the most. Dedicate your time and busy yourself with things that serve you and serve a purpose not just what looks good on a to do list because when you really spend your time doing what you want and not just what makes you busy you won’t need one. I never need a list to remind me to hug you tight, or a reminder to call my mom, or an alarm to tell Daddy I love him and I thank God every day I work in a field where I enjoy what I do so its an extension of my purpose rather than a title that sounds good. And I’m not saying there won’t be times in your life where you will have to busy yourself with things you may not want to do to get to where you’re going but just make sure you’re not just doing the busy work of life but rather you’re really enjoying you life because you don’t get a substitute there’s only one life so fill your time with what makes you happy.

Love You Always,

Mommy

P.S.: To the girl who always has to be in the mix…make sure you are dedicating yourself to people and things that are dedicated to you. You can’t be busy doing things for people who don’t have a second of time for you. This is your life and you will never get to rewind so choose things now that serve you in a positive way. Spend your free time on things that free you emotionally, physically, and/or mentally not on things that make you feel trapped in a endless cycles of things that you “have” to do.

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Carpe Diem

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Dear Ellie:

One thing that traveling is likely to remind you of is that in life sometimes you have to just go for it. As you will know by the time you read this Mommy is a very picky eater, and that’s putting it mildly; but on my trip to London and South Africa I have eaten fish, ostrich, goat, barracuda, and a few items that I’m not even sure I know the name of (but I drew the line at the caterpillar). My motto every time I ate something new has been “Carpe Diem” (or seize the day) and “When in Rome…Do as the Romans”. But my baby I want to remind you that while you should definitely make the most of every new experience, you don’t have to travel around the world to seize the day. Sometimes seizing the day just means going for your dreams like your Uncle who just published his first book. If you have a dream, which I know you will, you don’t have to wait for some magical sign from the universe saying this is exactly the right time, because that may never come. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and jump. I can’t promise that it will work out perfectly anymore than I can promise that I will eat goat again but I can tell you that you won’t regret it. People who live life to the fullest and make the most of every opportunity rarely speak of regrets because they are to busy appreciating the lessons. As a toddler your confidence is inspiring you see something you want to try and because you don’t have a sense of logic or fear you just go for it; I promise to encourage you to keep that spirit for as long as possible. In life there are certainly healthy fears but my baby you don’t always have to fear the unknown sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and seize the day because a second chance is never a guarantee.

Love You Always,

Mommy

P.S. To the girl trying to plan every single moment to be perfect…stop. I’ve learned that life does not work that way. While preparation is certainly important, often there is no better time than the present. So whatever it is that you keep putting off until tomorrow…just go for it. There’s no age requirement for going after your dreams…in fact the world just might be waiting for you to do it. So what ever it is you’re putting off for tomorrow I challenge you to just go for it…it’s your day so seize it!

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Fish & Chips

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Dear Ellie:

Hi my baby! Right now Mommy is half a world away, missing you terribly, but thankfully you are blissfully unaware! I’ve spent the last week traveling to London then onto South Africa. It has been amazing to say the absolute least. While in South Africa I was told an African proverb that states, “the power of the fish is in the water”. It reminded me that it’s not just about what’s inside us and our personal attributes if we are not sure to align ourselves with an environment that allows us to thrive we will suffocate what we were meant to be. A fish can not breathe out of water anymore than you will be able to fit in somewhere that you should stand out. Our environment contributes so much to who we are don’t forget that my baby. If you find yourself in a place that only drains the water out of your fishbowl or the power out of who you are…find a new one. And as you grow and learn you may not always know exactly the right environment for you so I promise that until you can I will do EVERYTHING in my power to ensure that you are in an environment that encourages and nurtures the power within you. And don’t be afraid to explore ; the more you open your eyes the more you can definitively say where you belong and understand the world around you. By going to England before South Africa I was so much more aware of British influence in this country. Life is a continuous cycle of lessons and there’s no bigger teacher than our environment. And my baby if you ever find yourself feeling like a fish out of water look around, take stock, and find where you’re meant to be…find the environment that empowers you not suffocates you.

Love you always,

Mommy

P.S. To the little girl feeling trapped in her environment…change it. If you feel like you live in a bad neighborhood volunteer, give back to your community, be the change you want to see. I know you can’t always pick up and leave but you can always take your power back…after all it’s yours!

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Limitless

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Dear Ellie:

One of the first things I did when I got to Clark Atlanta to start my college career was to find the Honors Program office. I knew two things about the Honors Program 1. it was going to be my first club at Clark Atlanta since I was accepted into it when I applied to college and 2. that it was the office your Yeye called to make sure I had my full tuition scholarship. When I got there I immediately understood it wasn’t a club it was a family and the family’s motto has stuck with me since I learned it…”You are only limited by the limits of your creativity.” The CAU honors program motto combined with one of CAU’s mottos “I’ll find a way or make one.” made me feel pretty much invincible. I think they are both great things to remember especially for a smart, talented, ambitious, young black woman, preparing to take on a new challenge because while those things will naturally equip you with all the things you need to succeed they can also sometimes come with people who will challenge you simply because you are smart, talented, ambitious, young, and black (and frankly my baby that still intimidates a lot of people). So those people will try to stop you all the while never realizing that what is meant for you is for you and no one, no matter how hard they try, can change that. But my baby just because it’s meant for you doesn’t mean it will be handed to you; in fact the things that we consider to be our greatest blessings often take the most time and sacrifice. For instance, you and Daddy are two of the best blessings God could’ve ever given me but it took 9+ months of carrying you (and a whole lot of nausea) to be able to hold you in my arms and before that it took 7 years of God helping Daddy and I to do the back breaking work of building a real foundation that you could grow from. So it takes work my baby, even those blessings that seem to just fall into your lap are fruit of labor somewhere down the line. I want you to remember when you get stuck in that place of wondering if something is truly for you to just stop and just ask I promise you an answer will come if you are receptive to it. There will be times when you realize that you have to walk away from something and you have to be open to that even when its hard, even when you really think you can make it work. Listen to your heart, that little voice inside you, or what ever it is telling you “take the blessing in your lesson and move forward” because there will be other journeys to take. Yes my baby those great adventures that end with the grand prize will surely come your way. There will be trophies, scholarships, jobs, opportunities you name it and it is on those journeys when you will find yourself making a way out of no way with your creativity. Many people who you will learn about as great historical figures weren’t thought of as great at all during their time but its not always about the recognition. When that same voice tells you to keep pushing regardless of the nay sayers you do just that my baby. When a door gets slammed in your face, pause, collect yourself, and use your head to figure out how to either get into the window or bust through the door…whatever it takes. I promise you that you have every single tool you need just sitting and waiting in you head. In fact I watch you now working with things and figuring them out even if you have to get creative and it makes me think what is it along the way that makes us stop trying and stop pushing toward our goals. I realize now that its fear. We can quickly grow tired and fearful of the sting of rejection but you truly never know how close you are to your mountain top when the clouds are all around you and even though its scary its at those times you must buckle down and take it step by step. Whatever it is that has been placed on your heart to do my baby DO IT…the world is waiting!

 

Love You Always,

Mommy

 

P.S. To that little girl on the verge of giving up…wait. Before you give up on something be sure you are walking away with a clean heart not because you have lost faith in your ability to carry on. If you truly reflect and ask for guidance then you will realize, sooner than you think, the direction you need to go. There will be times that you will travel down a path confused by traditional directions, only to find that when you turn the GPS off and trust your instincts you find your destination.

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A Love Like This

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Dear Ellie:

I had a thought in mind as I went to write this letter to you and then I heard of the passing of another legend, Ruby Dee. As I tell you all the time, and will continue to, its one of my most important missions in life to ensure that you know and respect the stories of those that came before you so I don’t doubt that by the time you read this on your own you will know who the fabulously talented Ruby Dee was. So today I’m not writing to you about just her exactly but more so the love she had with her husband who passed before her Ossie Davis. Not only did they act in countless movies, plays, etc together they also strived together to fight for things they believed in. I remember seeing pictures of them or watching old movies with my Granny and thinking “man that’s love”. They just exuded love; you could see it in every picture, mannerisms, and look. And I’m sure that there were days when they couldn’t stand each other (cause that’s how love works) but they were the definition of a unit. They remind me of another power couple. They weren’t famous or anything but their love was powerful enough. I’m speaking of my Granny and Grandaddy Paul. My Mommy’s Daddy passed before I was born so I never had the chance to meet him but I could always feel him around. He was in the way your Granny spoke and even there in the dead of night when she would call out to him in her sleep. I remember once she was asked why she never remarried and she said…”To Who?”. She was so taken aback at the question as though it never crossed her mind. She said…”Who else was there?” And in that moment I remember thinking I want a love like a that. A love so powerful that it could help change laws in a country where human beings were seen as less than because of the color or their skin and at the same time so powerful that you couldn’t even imagine life with someone else. The kind of love that gives you confidence that this is it from every up, down, left, and right you know in your heart of hearts you love someone that you can ride it out until the wheels fall off. Some people may say that that’s just how love used to be that they don’t make love like that anymore. Well my baby I think that God is love and with that being my truth how could I ever believe that the kind of love that will last a lifetime doesn’t exist anymore. And I’m so thankful that I know in my heart you will grow up seeing love because he gave me your Daddy. Yes things and times change but a heart is a heart and love is love. But at the same time I don’t want your life to be all about chasing love of a person, because when it’s right it will find you, but I do hope that you always believe in love my baby. After your first, second, or third heart break I hope you keep believing; and I hope that belief helps you to realize that you don’t have to settle for just any love. And my baby everybody’s love looks different so don’t strive for a relationship like Mommy and Daddy’s or even Ruby Dee and Ossie. There’s a love that God created and intended just for you and no one has to understand it but you. And my hopes for you go beyond love for another person I hope the kind of love I’m telling you about consumes your whole life. I pray you have a career that you love and allows you to serve your purpose, that you have hobbies you love, and that life takes you places you fall in love with. Who says every moment of life can’t be great?! Yes as I’ve told you there will be hard times along your journey but when you know in you’re heart that its just a part of a journey toward something you love it makes it so much more worth it. So my baby love hard even if you can’t explain but you know its right go for it. And if that love leaves you I hope you find it again like Ossie has Ruby again and Herbert got Elizabeth back.

Love You Always,

Mommy

P.S. To the little girl searching for love…STOP! Love isn’t a scavenger hunt or a game of hide and seek. It will find you when you least expect it. Just keep living and loving yourself, your life, and your purpose (even if you don’t know what it is yet) and eventually you will attract the love God intended for you. The kind of love you won’t have to beg for or feel bad about. Just a regular old day in day out I love you even at your worst type of love.

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Death Becomes Life

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Dear Ellie:

I hope that your first experience with someone close to you passing away is far far in the distance but the thing about life is that you truly never know. And honestly your first experience or your 5th, it all hurts. I remember the first time someone I knew passed…it was my Great-Great Uncle Richard; I couldn’t have been more than 5 and didn’t really understand the concept but I cried and cried to my Daddy and he gave me red kool aid. Then yesterday as I drove home taking the streets instead of the expressway because there was a bad accident I realized somewhere along that hour and a half drive that I was taking the same route that I would take to see my Granny, one of your namesakes, during the last months of her physical life. I drove that way several times a week for almost a month to see a beautiful angel named Elizabeth begin her journey out of this world, but yesterday I was driving just to get home to see my angel baby Elizabeth. And again I was so grateful for you. Because you’re always in my thoughts you are somehow always guiding me to see the bigger picture and my silver lining. The night my Granny passed I remember the phone call that came during a time of the night when the phone shouldn’t ring and I remember telling your Daddy that I think this will be it I knew if she was headed back to the hospital she wouldn’t be coming back. I didn’t think this because I’m pessimistic but because I knew my Granny she was VERY strong willed, just like you, and she told us she wasn’t going back to the hospital and I knew with her strong will she would determine just when she decided to move on. On the the drive to the hospital with your Yeye to hear the inevitable news I said a silent prayer not that she would stay just until I got there or anything like that but just for peace because I think in those type of times that’s the best we can ask for. When there is truly nothing you can do just ask for peace to surround you. I also remember the next day June 3rd so much clearer…I remember finally breaking down and I remember talking to your Daddy, your God Mommy Kris bringing me cheese fries, your Aunt Brandy letting me know she was sorry to hear even though it was your cousin’s birthday. These are the things that stand out to me…the people who truly genuinely care. When the time comes for you to experience a loss let those people be there for you don’t push them away God place them right there for a reason. They may never even really know what it meant to you but that’s not always the point and they won’t do it for the recognition anyway. When someone close to you passes it may feel like a hole being burned into your memory and heart…time will stop for a moment and you’ll never forget it. Just like I remember the tears your Pops shed when my Great Grandma Rose passed, or my heart stopping when I realized the phone call your Daddy got when his Granny (your other namesake) passed, or my roommates gathering around my tiny dorm room at CAU so I could get the news my Aunt Janet had passed (that’s still probably the biggest shock of my life) and so many more times that will forever be there in my memory. Sometimes those memories will sneak up on you and take your joy away momentarily. But in those times my baby remember the other memories, the really really good ones that make you laugh until your side hurts. When the sadness creeps in I hope you smile like your Daddy does thinking about his cousin Shareeka or how your Yeye and your great aunts laugh thinking about my Aunt Denise. Death is the more unfortunate of the two universally guaranteed parts of life but take joy in knowing its a cycle. With death will come life again. You remind your Daddy and I so much of your namesakes at different times and sometimes I get a little jealous because I know you get to laugh and talk with all those angels around you. And those angels will never really leave you. We carry the people we love in our souls and that never changes. The hugs stop and the sound of their voices may fade but they never leave us. So I hope you can find joy in that, and find a way to smile a little quicker when you feel like someone has been taken and until you’re ready just remember to rely on those living angels like mommy’s, daddy’s, uncles, aunties, best friends, a nice stranger, etc that God gave you to help pull through. I promise my baby even after death you will find your way back to life. After all just like my Granny would always say instead of goodbye its Just For Now…

Love You Always,

Mommy

P.S. To the girl facing the idea of death remember that spirits don’t die. They are there in the smile of a baby or the little signs that make sense to only you. Don’t feel guilty in moments of happiness because continuing to live doesn’t dishonor those no longer with us. Be strong and in that strength don’t be afraid to be weak.

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Mirror Mirror

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Dear Ellie:

This past weekend while at the grocery store a nice lady approached us and complemented you on how pretty you were and then told me that you looked just like me. Even though I think you are the perfect mix of Mommy and Daddy we often get that compliment while out and about. I’m not sure if people realize how big that is to me or if they are just making an observation, probably the latter. But my baby I don’t think I’ve ever received a bigger or better compliment than when people say you remind them of me or that you look just like me. Sometimes I even catch myself off guard looking through the thousands of pictures I’ve taken of you and have to agree that it really is like looking in a mirror some days. Can you imagine someone comparing you to your picture of perfection…talk about an ego boost! You are gorgeous my baby with your chubby cheeks, beautiful eyes that melt my heart, that head full of curls, and of course the smile that can brighten my whole week in an instant. I might stan so hard for you because you’re my baby but you truly are undeniably gorgeous. It’s not just your features though love bug it’s the brightness around you that brings out your beauty. And it’s that light that shines over you that I hope you never loose. I also hope that as you grow if people keep telling you that we look alike or that you remind them of me I hope that makes you smile. As I got older family and friends would start to say wow you are starting to look like your mom which is in stark contrast to being my Daddy’s twin from the day I was born. In my heart though I know its not really a change in features but more so that as I grew older I began to take on traits that I learned from my Mommy. The way she carried herself, the way she demanded respect, her confidence, and definitely her sassiness are all traits that before I knew it became my own. So in thinking about this I have decided even more so that if our mothers are our first mirrors in which we see ourselves as women then I promise your mirror will reflect the very best of you. I remember being pregnant with you and being very aware of the things I said and the music I listened to. Now as I have conversations with you that I know you can’t quite understand, yet I believe they reach your spirit, and I write you these open letters that you can’t read yet I have watched my words turn into actions. Thank you my baby for making me better and helping me to remember that there is always a higher plateau to reach. There is nothing wrong with becoming a better person by your own definition despite the backlash you may receive from people who say “you’ve changed”. In that same breath when you grow up it will be you looking back in the mirror not anyone else so live by your own expectations not anyone else’s. If you can focus on that, your own continuous journey, you will also find you have less and less time or energy to judge the journey of those around you. What is for you is for you. There are a million lessons, laughs, experiences, destinations, etc out there waiting that have been designed just for you. Don’t delay your blessings worrying about those whose time on your journey has ended or whose role in your play has changed. That light that I hope you keep comes from being free of unhealthy relationships, focusing on the positive, and loving yourself. When you can look in your mirror and see all the beauty God created in you it is so much easier to see it every where else as well. When I realized my Mommy was my mirror I was so proud and in awe of her. She loves her family with every ounce of her being and to be compared to someone like that is humbling. So I promise to work every single day to make you proud, to provide you with opportunities big and small, and to be an example of the type of woman you don’t have to be but wouldn’t mind being.

Love You Always,

Mommy

 

P. S. To the little who is searching for a mirror that reflects the kind of beauty she hopes to see, they are out there. Mirrors are everywhere in your coach, the lady that sits down the row from you at church, your best friend, the list goes on. Search for beauty in your community and before you know it you will see it in yourself too. And if you haven’t found that mirror become one. Everyday new little girls are born into this world and every single one of them could use someone that reflects the greatness they are capable of.

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Plane, Train, or Automobile

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Dear Ellie:

I don’t have any big metaphors today I just to make sure I tell you to travel. See new worlds my baby don’t ever be afraid to step outside your front door. Whether it’s going from the south side to the north side new experiences are waiting for you. And make sure you use your resources, if you make a friend that moves to London hop on a plane and go! (I’m sure your God Father will move somewhere exotic by the time you’re able to travel alone so go visit.) Every time you experience a new country, city, or town your world view expands a bit more and you see things a little differently. See as much as you can, and go as far as you can. You don’t have to be afraid to travel because there will always be a home waiting for you. Home is where you are loved and comfortable. When you travel you won’t know the people and it may even get a little scary but that’s life my baby. You realize what you’re capable of when you allow yourself to experience discomfort. The love and comfort of home will always be here, in fact you can carry it with you in your heart when you travel so JUST GO…what’s stopping you? Nothing at all in fact the world is waiting!

Love You Always,

Mommy

P.S. To the little girl sitting comfortably on her side of town…grab a bus card, buy a train ticket, apply for a study abroad scholarship. Do whatever you have to do but go make some memories…and not the same ones you made yesterday. You never know what’s out there for you if you don’t go looking. And you may have a million reasons (excuses) why you can’t but you can find a way or make one to do anything…I promise you that!